Circuit breaker



Jan. 5, 1932.v

D. W. WEAVER CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. l2, 1930 `4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor 0 /4 ana' I4( tf1/ayer /3 v 1 A ttorney D. W. WEAVER GIRCUIT- BREAKER Jan. 5, 1932.

Filed Feb. l2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor A ttorney Jan. 5; 1932. D W, WEAVER 1,840,004

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. l2, 195.0 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 y Qg By @Mmm tiorney Jan. 5, 1932. D. w WEAVER I 1,840,004

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. l2, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,d/712% W Md/@f4 Bymaalm Patented Jan. `5, 1932 t PATENT .or-#FICE DANIEL w. WEAVER, or GEEENSBUEG, INDIANA CIRCUIT IBREAKER Animation mea February 12, 1930. semi 1.70. 427,775.

r The present invention relates to va circuit breaker particularly adapted for use on automobiles and has for its prime object to provide means for breaking the electric circuit b of an automobile should the same turn over for the purpose of stopping the engine, put-4 ting out the light lit, and the like so as to eliminate danger of fires and other injuries or damages which might occur in such an accident.

- Another very important object of the 1nvention resides in the provision of a device of this nature which may be operated by hand if desired.

A still further object of the invention, is to provide, a hand operated device of this nature whereby the circuit may be broken while the caris parked inthe garage thus reducing fire hazards,

Another very important object of the 1nvention resides in the provision of a safety circuit breaker of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture and install, thoroughly efcient and reliable in use and operation, compact' and convenient in its arrangement of parts, easy to assemble and disassemble, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. 1

With the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the com- `bination and arrangement of parts as will be 3" hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: e

Figure 1 is a side` elevation .of the circuit breaker embodyingthe features of my inventlOIl, 3 l i Figure/2 is a vertical section therethrough taken substantially on the line 2--2 vof Figure 1, i

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof, Figure 4 is a top plan view of `a battery 4 showing the device attached thereto,

igure 5 is a side elevation thereof, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the funnel like member,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the` O spring latches,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a sectional view .taken substantially on the line 9-'9 ofpFigure 2,

Figure 10 is an end elevation of the insulating block, l

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Figure 2,

.Figure 12 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention showing the same in one position,

Figure 13 is a similar view showing` the same in another position,

Figure 14.- is a top plan view thereof, and

Figure 15 is a-sectional view taken substantially on the line 15-15 of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawin s in detail and first to Figures 1 to 11 inc usive'it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a box having a removable cover 6 at the top thereof and adapted `to be anchored in place by suitable fastening means 7. The bottom'y of the box is provided with a well 8 for housing a coil spring 9. A block of insulating material 10 is slidably mounted in the box and has transverse openings therethrough inl which are located conducting rods 11. Y In opposite sides of the4 box are bushings 12 for receiving the ends of wires 13 which are adapted to be anchored in contact with the rods 11 by' suit- A able means 14.

This contact relationship between the bars 11 and the wires 13 is had only when the block 10 rests on the bottom of the box as isshown in Figure 2, the spring 9 being adapted to normally raise the block 10 so as to break the contact. These wires 13 ciepresentthe wires which come from the terminals of battery B, the box 5 preferably being anchored on one end. thereof. l

This arrangement is shown merely by way of example and is not of the essence of the invention as will be readily appreciated that both of the lead wires of the battery or only (ne of them may be passed through this evi ce.

A funnel like member 15 includes an oblong cone-shaped upper mouth or receptacle 16 which merges into an elongated 'depending tubular portion 17 the bottom end of which is solid and externally threaded as is indicated at 18. Intermediate the ends of the tubular portion 17 there are oppositely disposed openings 19. This tubular portion 17 is slidable through an opening in the center of the cover 6 and the solid threaded end 18 is adapted to be threaded into a recess into the upper end of th` block 10.

A body 20, vhich if desired may be rectangular but for the purpose of example is herein shown as cylindrical rests on top of the cover 6 circumjacent the intermediate portion of the tube 17 and is formed with diametrically opposite disposed radial openings 21 in which are slidable bullet shaped latch bolts 22 adapted to be extended through the openings 21 by means of springs 23 which impinge against the latch bolts and also against a ring 24 circumjacent the body 2O and anchored to the cover 6 by means of releasable spring clips 25.

A bar 26 is slidable in the tube 17 and intermediate its ends is formed with an upwardly tapered wedge portion 27 merging into a reduced extension 28 having a head 29 located within the receptacle 16. A spring 30 is in the bottom of the tube 17 and impinges upwardly against the bar 26 suiiicientlvto urge the wedge shaped intermediate portion 27 upwardly for forcing the latch bolts 22 outwardly and then the spring 9 is strong enough to push the block 10 upwardly with the funnel shaped member 15 forcing the bolts 22 out of the openings 19 thereby breaking the circuit as will be apparent.

To normally prevent the operation liust described a ball 31 is mounted in the receptacle 16 and therefore rests on the head 29 and this ball is of sufficient weight to overcome the tension of the spring 30.' It will be seen, however, that should the vehicle turn over the ball 31 will be thrown out of the receptacleand therefore the spring 30 would come into action to allow the operation just described for breaking the circuit.

It may be desirable. at times, to break this circuit and therefore I provide a hand operating mechanism which includes the fork 32 having its ends anchored to the ring 2O and any suitable means 33 may be provided for pulling this fork 32 so as to raise the body 20 and the ring 24, suicient pressure being used to overcome the spring clip 25 thereby leaving the spring 9 free to raise the block and.

break the circuit.

In Figures 12 to 15 inclusive I have shown another embodiment of the invention wherein numeral denotes a casing one end of which is open and has a cap plate 41 thereon anchored in place by suitable fastening means 42.

` A block of insulating material 43 is 4rockable in the casing 4() and has extending diametrically thereacross one or more conductor bars 44 with which contacts or wires 45 are engaged. A shaft 46 extends from one end of the block 43 and is journalled through the center of the cap plate 41 and has a reduced terminal extension 47 which in turn has a reduced extension 48.

A spring 49 coiled about the shaft and having one end anchored in the cap 41 and has one end anchored in the block 43 and is normally tensioned to rock the block 43 so as to-disengage the conduit bars 44 from the wires and break the circuit. However, on the end 47 there is an arm 50 from the terminal of which extends oblong funnel shaped receptacle 51 in which is disposed a ball 52 of suflicient weight'to overcome the tension of the spring 49.

It is preferable to use a spring clip 53 to vengage the arm and aid in holding the same inthe position shown in Figure 12.

If the vehicle should upset, the ball would be thrown from the receptacle 51 thereby freeing the arm 50 and allowing the rocking of the block 43 to circuit breaking position. The arm 5() is limited in its movement by a stop 55. To operate the device by hand I mount a bell crank lever 56 on the extension 48 and provide a pin 57 on the arm 5() with which one arm of the bell crank will contact when rocked by a cable 58 or the like so as to break the circuit as will be apparent.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in considerable detail merely for the purposes o-exempliiication since in actual practice they attain the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.v

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to'without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a. casing, a movable block in the casing, a conductor bar in the block, means for anchoring wires to the casing to engage the ends of the bar when the block is in one position, spring means normally urging the block from said one position to break the circuit between the wires, a tube slidable through one end of the casing and anchored' in the block, latch means for holding said tube with the spring under tension and the circuit closed, and means for releasing said latch means.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a movable block in the casing, a conductor ba-r in the block, means for anchoring wires to the casing to engage the ,spring ends, of the bar when the block is in one position, spring means normally urging the block from said one position to break the circuit between the wires, a tube slidable through one end of the casing and anchored in the block, latch means for holding said tube with the spring under tension and the circuit closed, a member slidable through the tube being tapered upwardly and intermediate its ends to form a wedge portion for releasing the latch means, spring means under the member urging the same upwardly, a receptacle at thetop of the tube, a weight element in the receptacle to engage the member and overcome the\-tension of the spring thereunder.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a movable block in the casing, a conductor bar in the block, means for anchoring wires to the casing to engage the ends of the bar when the block is in one position, spring means normally urging the block from said one position to break the circuit between the wires, a shaft rockable through one end of the casing and anchored in the block, an arm on the shaft exteriorly of the casing, a spring' clipon the casing engageable with said arm for holding the latter against the action of the spring for normally retaining said block in said one'position, a receptacle on said arm, and a weight element in said receptacle for overcoming the tension on said spring so that when said weight element is out of said receptacle said spring moves the block to break the circuit.

4. A device of the'class described comprising a casing, a movable block in the casing, a conductor bar in the block, means for anchoring wires to the casing to engage the ends of the bar when the block is in one position, spring means normally urging the block from said one position to break the circuit between the wires, a shaft rockable through one end of the casing and anchored in the block, an arm on theshaft exteriorly of the casing, a spring clip on the casing engageable with said arm for holding the latter against the actionbf the spring for normally retaining said block in said one position, a receptacle on said arm, and a Weight element in said receptacle for overcoming the tension on said spring so that when said weight element is out of said receptacle said spring moves the block to break the circuit, a stop pin extending from said casing engageable with said arm for limiting the movement of said arm when the latter is actuated by said g, a bell crank on said shaft and said arm having a pin engageable with one arm of the bell crank whereby upon actuation of said bell crank said arm will be moved into engagement with said spring cllp.

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a movable block in the casing, a conductor bar in the block, means for anchoring wires to the casing to engage the ends of 'the bar when the block is in one position, spring means normally urging the block from said one position to break the circuit between the wires, a member fixedly engaged with the block and movable therewith, said member extending through one end of the casing, yieldable means for holding said member with the spring under tension and the circuit closed, and means for releasing said yieldable means.

6. In a device of the class described, a movable member, spring means normally urging said movable member in one direction, a second member carried by the iirst mentioned member and movable therewith, means acting on said second member oppositely to the action o'l" said spring means on said first mentioned member, said last mentioned means including a conical container, and a weight normally arranged in the container;

7. In combination, a pair of circuit wires having adjacent ends disposed in relatively spaced fixed relation, a movable member, a conductor rod carried b v said movable member, oppositely acting means acting on said movable member for normally retaining the same in one position with the conductor rod engaging the same ends of said circuit wires for normally retaining the circuit closed, said oppositely acting means including a member normally urging said movable member in one direction to break the circuit, and a secondmemberdisplaceablein response to shock whereby said movable member is free to move for moving said conductor rod out of engagement with the ends of the circuit wires, and manual means for displacing said displaceable member independently of shock.

S. A device of the class described compris-- ing in combination a pair of circuit wires having adjacent ends arranged in relatively spaced xed relation, a block arranged between said ends and movable relative thereto, a conductor rod carried by said block, means normally urging said block in one direction for moving said conductor rod out of engagement with the said ends of said circuit wires, means acting against the last mentioned means for normally retaining said block in one position with the conductor bar engaging said ends of said circuit wires, and including an element displaceable in response to shock for freeing said blocks, whereby the latter may be moved under action of the first mentioned means, and manual means for effecting a displacement of saidelement independ DANIEL W. WE AVER. 

